(UPM, Pietarsaari, 20 March, 2012 at 9 EET) – UPM will begin a large construction project at its Pietarsaari pulp mill to rebuild the mill’s effluent treatment plant. The circa EUR 30 million investment will cover the rebuild of all of the main phases of waste water treatment. The work will start immediately and is to be completed at the end of 2013.

”With the rebuild of the effluent treatment plant we will improve the pulp mill’s production efficiency and reduce its environmental impact. The rebuild will also enable further development of the mill in future”, says the mill’s General Manager Kenneth Winberg.

The construction includes a new preliminary clarifier for fibres and an aeration basin, created mainly by excavating rock. The pumping station and compressor house will be completely new constructions.

Continuous improvement in water use

UPM is currently reviewing water management and efficiency in material use at several mills. By 2020, we aim to have reduced waste water volume by 15% in pulp and paper production compared with levels in 2008. Sustainable use of water is one of our core environmental principles.

UPM treats all waste water in primary and secondary effluent treatment plants before it is released into watercourses. The biological treatment stage is an efficient way to remove dissolved organic contaminants and nutrients from waste water. The emission level of waste water is regularly measured and monitored according to valid monitoring plans.

UPM Pietarsaari pulp mill is the biggest pulp mill in Europe with an annual production capacity of around 800,000 tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp. The pulp mill employs about 300 people. Pulp is sold mainly to global markets, where it is used in the production of everyday products like tissue, packaging, label, office and writing papers. The Pietarsaari mill site also includes a packaging paper mill. In February, UPM signed an agreement on the sale of its packaging paper production to the Swedish company Billerud. The target is to close the transaction during the second quarter of 2012.

UPM’s Pulp Business Area employs 1,400 professionals globally. We manufacture high quality softwood and hardwood pulp. All wood is sourced from sustainably managed forests and our own eucalyptus plantations in Uruguay. Our four modern and efficient mills are located in Finland and Uruguay. Pulp sales in 2011 were EUR 1.6 billion.

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 24,000 people and it has production plants in 16 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com.